Billiard type table with rotatable disk on playing surface having at least one ball aperture therethrough

ABSTRACT

A billiard type table includes a playing surface, cushions at the perimeter of the playing surface and a rotatable circular disk flush with the playing surface and having at least one aperture spaced from and within the perimeter of playing surface. The disk constitutes part of the playing surface and, by rotating the disk, the aperture or apertures therein can be positioned at different distances from the perimeter of the playing surface. An operating member is provided to rotate the disk and latching structure is provided for releasably retaining the disk in its rotated position.

United States Patent [191 Velissaris BILLIARD TYPE TABLE WITH ROTATABLE DISK ON PLAYING SURFACE HAVING AT LEAST ONE BALL APERTURE THERETHROUGI-I I [76] Inventor: George Velissaris, 235 Chruch St.,

Richmond Victoria, Australia 22 Filed: June 7,1973

21 Appl. No.: 367,791

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 7, 1972 Australia 9238/72 [52] U.S. Cl. 273/125 R, 273/3 R, 273/11 C, 273/12 [51] Int. Cl A63d 15/00 [58] Field of Search 273/3 R, 3 C, 11 R, 11 C, 273/12, 123 R, 123 A, 124 R, 124 A, 125 R, 125 A, 127 R, 127 C [56] References Cited Nov. 19,1974

l/l970 Porath et a]. 273/12 X Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew and Tuttle [5 7] ABSTRACT A billiard type table includes a playing surface, cushions at the perimeter of the playing surface and a rotatable circular disk flush with the playing surface and having at least one aperture spaced from and within the perimeter of playing surface.

The disk constitutes part of the playing surface and, by rotating the disk, the aperture or apertures therein can be positioned at different distances from the perimeter of the playing surface. An operating member is provided to rotate the disk and latching structure is provided for releasably retaining the disk UNITED STATES PATENTS in its rotated position. 1,938,265 l2/l933 Thomas 273/11 C 3,384,369 5/1968 Rumell 272/69 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BILLIARD TYPE TABLE WITH ROTATABLE DISK ON PLAYING SURFACE HAVING AT LEAST ONE BALL APERTURE THERETHROUGI-I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved billiard type table and relates particularly to one which has at least one pocket within the perimeter of the playing surface.

Most preferably, the at least one pocket is on a movable part of the playing surface which can be moved to place the at least one pocket at different positions in the playing surface.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to providea new billiard type table playing with new or existing billiards, pool or snooker rules, or like type rules. In one preferred aspect it is an object to provide such a table but wherein at least one pocket is movable so as to occupy a different position for each game whereby players may not become as proficient at putting balls into particular holes or pockets as in known billiard type tables.

PREFERRED ASPECT OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a billiard type table including a playing surface, cushion means at the perimeter of the playing surface and at least one aperture at a position in the playing surface, spaced from and within the perimeter of playing surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a billiard type table including a playing surface, cushion means at the perimeter of the playing surface and part of the playing surface mounted in the table for movement within the perimeter of the playing surface. This part is planar with the playing surface and has at least one aperture therein, and an operating member is operatively connected with such part to cause, when operated, the part to move to change the position of the at least one aperture and releasable holding means are provided for releasably holding the part in the new position. For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an improved billiard table in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view taken along line 22 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view taken along line 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the part of the mechanism of the table used for releasing balls and for placing the pockets at different positions on the table; and

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view showing in detail the method of supporting for rotation a disc which contains the pockets holes or apertures (hereinafter called apertures).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to all the Figures, the table has a rectangular playing surface nine feet long by 5 feet in width, and cushions 3 surrounding the periphery of the playing surface. The playing surface 1 is supported in horizontal spaced relation from the floor by a casing 5. The casing 5 has an upper hollow part 7 and lower part 9. The lower part 9 has level adjusting feet 11 at each corner to provide for levelling of the playing surface 1.

A disc 13 with six apertures 14 therein is mounted centrally of and planar with the table in a circular opening 15 therein. The diameter of the disc is one third of the width of the table and is mounted for rotation within the circular opening 15 by mounting a shaft 17, bolted to the disc 13 by bolts 19, over a spigot 21 which is bolted, by bolts 22, to the floor of the hollow compartment 7 there being a ball roller bearing 23 maintaining the free end of the shaft in operative rotational relationship with the spigot 21.

The peripheral edge of the disc 13 is supported by four nylon rollers 25 each mounted for rotation on a shaft 27 secured in a respective block 29 which is fastened to the underside of the playing surface 1. The nylon rollers 25 are equally spaced around the opening 15 to provide uniform support of the disc 13.

The shaft 17 has a ratchet wheel 31 integral therewith which is used to co-operate with a pawl 33 pivoted on an operating member 35 which projects from the table, so that, when the operating member 35 is pulled outwardly of the table, the pawl 33 engages with the ratchet wheel 31 and imparts a rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 31 and because the ratchet wheel 31 is fastened to the disc 13 the disc 13 is also rotated. A stop 37 on the operating member 35 holds the pawl 33 in operative relation with respect to the operating member 35 during this motion. A coil spring (not shown) biases the pawl 33 against the stop 37. The operating member 35 is supported in the hollow compartment in two blocks 39 in bearings therein which provide for sliding of the operating member longitudinally of itself. The rollers 25 and the bearing 23 allow the disc 13 to freely rotate.

When the operating member 35 is returned from its pulled position, the pawl 33 engages between two of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31 so that, when the disc 13 is stationary, it is locked in that position until the operating member 35 is again pulled. In practice this is usually at the start of play of a new game.

The upper hollow part 7 has a downwardly inclined surface 40 with side walls 43. The downwardly inclined surface 40 communicates with a ball holding chamber which has a hinged floor 47. Underneath the hinged floor 47 is a ball discharge chamber 49. The hinged floor 47 is operatively connected with the operating member 35 by a lever 51 pinned thereto by a pin 52 to cause the floor to swing downwardly when the operating member 35 is .pulled outwardly of the table.

Thus, in use, the balls passing through the apertures 14 move down the inclined surface and pass into the ball holding chamber 45 and are retained therein because the hinged floor is in a position to prevent them from passing into the ball discharge chamber 49 because, during a game, the operating member 35 is inwardly of the table to lock the disc 13 in a selected or chance position.

A coin freed mechanism 50 of known type is mounted in the upper hollow part 7 and is connected with the operating member 35 to allow it to be pulled out only after insertion of a required coin.

The whole of the playing surface is covered with a baize 53 to provide for smooth rolling of the balls. I Additionally the diameter of the disc 13 and the diameter of the opening 15 are of substantially identical dimensions so as to provide for smoothrolling transfer of balls onto or off the disc 13.

What I claim is:

l. A billiard type table comprising, in combination, a

means forming a substantially planar playing surface; cushion means extending along the periphery of said playing surface; said playing surface having a circular aperture therein spaced from said cushion means; a circular disk rotatably mounted in said aperture, said disk normally being stationary during play on said playing surface, said disk further being mounted for stepwise rotation about a vertical axis, with its upper surface coplanar with said playing surface to form a movable part of saidplaying surface; said disk having at least one aperture therein, eccentric to its axis of rotation, for movement of a playing ball therethrough; means, including a selectively manually actuable operating member, selectively operable to rotate said disk stepwise to position through a fixed increment of 360 said at least one aperture at different locations in said playing surface each time said member is actuated; and releasable latch means operable, responsive to each such stepwise rotation of said disk, to latch said disk with said at least one aperture in its new location in said playing surface.

2. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 1, including a ball holding chamber beneath said disk for receiving playing balls passing through said at least one aperture.

3. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 2, including a ball releasing mechanism operatively associated with said chamber and with said operating member and operable, responsive to such manual actuation of said operating member, to release balls from said ball holding chamber. c

4. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disc is supported near its periphery by roller support means engaging on the under surface thereof and wherein the disc has a central spindle connected thereto and is supported for rotation in a bearing.

5.-A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the playing surface is rectangular and the diameter of the disc is approximately one third the width of the table.

6. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the disc has six apertures. 7. A billiard typetable comprising, in combination, means forming a playing surface; cushion means at the perimeter of said playing surface; a part of said playing surface being mounted in said table for movement within the perimeter of said playing surface, said part being coplanar with said playing surface and having at least one aperture therethrough; an operating member operatively connected with said part and effective, when operated, to cause said part to move to change the position of said at least one aperture; releasable holding means releasably holding said part in its changed position; said part being constituted by a disk mounted for rotation about its center when operated by said operating member; a ball holding chamber communicating with said at least one aperture so that, in use, balls passing through said at least one aperture can collect in said ball holding chamber; and a ball releasing mechanism connected to said operating member to release balls from said ball holding chamber when said operating member is operated to change the position of said at least one aperture; said operating member being a rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a pawl carried thereby and a ratchet wheel rotatable with said disk; said disk being rotatable by said pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel to impart rotary motion to said disk when said operating member is operated in one direction.

8. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 7 wherein when the operating member is returned, after sliding in said one direction, the pawl engages with the ratchet wheel to hold the disc stationary thereby providing said releasable holding means.

9. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 7 wherein the operating member is connected with a coin freed mechanism to free for operation the operating member.

10. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the centre of the disc is situated centrally of the table. 

1. A billiard type table comprising, in combination, means forming a substantially planar playing surface; cushion means extending along tHe periphery of said playing surface; said playing surface having a circular aperture therein spaced from said cushion means; a circular disk rotatably mounted in said aperture, said disk normally being stationary during play on said playing surface, said disk further being mounted for stepwise rotation about a vertical axis, with its upper surface coplanar with said playing surface to form a movable part of said playing surface; said disk having at least one aperture therein, eccentric to its axis of rotation, for movement of a playing ball therethrough; means, including a selectively manually actuable operating member, selectively operable to rotate said disk stepwise to position through a fixed increment of 360* said at least one aperture at different locations in said playing surface each time said member is actuated; and releasable latch means operable, responsive to each such stepwise rotation of said disk, to latch said disk with said at least one aperture in its new location in said playing surface.
 2. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 1, including a ball holding chamber beneath said disk for receiving playing balls passing through said at least one aperture.
 3. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 2, including a ball releasing mechanism operatively associated with said chamber and with said operating member and operable, responsive to such manual actuation of said operating member, to release balls from said ball holding chamber.
 4. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disc is supported near its periphery by roller support means engaging on the under surface thereof and wherein the disc has a central spindle connected thereto and is supported for rotation in a bearing.
 5. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the playing surface is rectangular and the diameter of the disc is approximately one third the width of the table.
 6. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the disc has six apertures.
 7. A billiard type table comprising, in combination, means forming a playing surface; cushion means at the perimeter of said playing surface; a part of said playing surface being mounted in said table for movement within the perimeter of said playing surface, said part being coplanar with said playing surface and having at least one aperture therethrough; an operating member operatively connected with said part and effective, when operated, to cause said part to move to change the position of said at least one aperture; releasable holding means releasably holding said part in its changed position; said part being constituted by a disk mounted for rotation about its center when operated by said operating member; a ball holding chamber communicating with said at least one aperture so that, in use, balls passing through said at least one aperture can collect in said ball holding chamber; and a ball releasing mechanism connected to said operating member to release balls from said ball holding chamber when said operating member is operated to change the position of said at least one aperture; said operating member being a rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a pawl carried thereby and a ratchet wheel rotatable with said disk; said disk being rotatable by said pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel to impart rotary motion to said disk when said operating member is operated in one direction.
 8. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 7 wherein when the operating member is returned, after sliding in said one direction, the pawl engages with the ratchet wheel to hold the disc stationary thereby providing said releasable holding means.
 9. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 7 wherein the operating member is connected with a coin freed mechanism to free for operation the operating member.
 10. A billiard type table, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the centre of the disc is situated centrally of the table. 